Published: Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.

From the heartbreaking loss of her mother and a devastating accident that ruined her knees sprang a new reason to live for Debra Lampley.

The 59-year-old Southmont resident volunteers an unheard of 32 hours per week at Carolina Cancer Services. And while her coworkers sing her praises, she brushes it off, vowing she receives so much more from volunteering than she gives.

Lampley, who moved here with her parents when she was 13, went to work at Lexington Furniture Industries soon after high school like many Lexingtonians used to when the factories were the largest employers in the county. She figured she would spend her entire career working in the factory, but trade agreements signed in Washington sent her job and most of her coworkers' jobs to China in the mid-2000s.

"I was trying to find another job, but all I heard over and over is 'You have to have an education to get a job now,'" she said. "So I went back to school at Davidson County Community College and then when I graduated all I heard was 'You have to have experience to get a job.' Well how do you get experience if no one will hire you?"

The unlucky situation of not finding a job turned out to be a blessing, she said. Soon her mother was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, and she was needed to care for her mother and drive her to all of her doctor's appointments. About the same time, Lampley fell down a flight of stairs at her home, messing up her knees badly. It was so bad, she was eventually placed on disability.

"I wanted to work. I wanted something to do, but I needed a job where I could sit down because of my knees," she said.

Well a job didn't come her way, but the opportunity to volunteer at Carolina Cancer Services did in May 2011. Her daughter, Lori Triplette, who is a fundraiser on a local American Cancer Society Relay for Life team, heard that Carolina Cancer Services needed a volunteer receptionist for a few hours once a week. Lampley jumped at the chance, and her once a week volunteering turned into three days a week on her second week of volunteering. For the past 1 1/2 years, she has been volunteering at the agency for 32 hours each week.

Lampley is the agency's intake and quality services coordinator. She interviews Davidson County residents to see if they qualify for financial assistance during their cancer treatments to buy prescriptions, pay for gas to reach the appointments and other needs. The agency also provides support groups, educational information, wigs, scarves, hats, bras, Ensure and other items people battling cancer may need.

"I have been with nonprofit agencies longer than you have been alive," said new Executive Director Gary Drake. "And in all my years, I have never had a volunteer give 32 hours a week."

Ray Nance Howell IV, the newly named director of patient services, added that he knows of no agencies in town that have a volunteer who gives so much time.

"She really is the heart and soul of our clients," he said. "We are undergoing a transition, but she is the stability. We're able to continue the mission even while undergoing change."

For Lampley, she said the long hours are worth it when she is able to see relief on a client's face because the agency will help them with gas money to travel to appointments or treatments, or help them pay for a prescription they could never afford.

"I just love doing this," she said.

"She embodies the spirit of the season," chimed in Howell, referring to Christmas.

When not volunteering, Lampley loves to read action/romance novels and spend time with her family. She is married to Donald Lampley, and they have a daughter and son, Don, along with four grandchildren and another on the way. The family loves gathering to eat, play Wii, cornhole and just be together.

"I have had people say, "Why do you do this? You don't get paid.' I say, 'Yes, I do.' Every time I help someone with travel expenses or another need, and I see the relief on their face, I get paid. I try to remember what it was like when I walked that trip with my mom. I try to give them what I wanted for her."

Jill Doss-Raines is the lifestyles editor at The Dispatch. She can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 219, or at jill.doss-raines@the-dispatch.com.

<p>From the heartbreaking loss of her mother and a devastating accident that ruined her knees sprang a new reason to live for Debra Lampley.</p><p>The 59-year-old Southmont resident volunteers an unheard of 32 hours per week at Carolina Cancer Services. And while her coworkers sing her praises, she brushes it off, vowing she receives so much more from volunteering than she gives.</p><p>Lampley, who moved here with her parents when she was 13, went to work at Lexington Furniture Industries soon after high school like many Lexingtonians used to when the factories were the largest employers in the county. She figured she would spend her entire career working in the factory, but trade agreements signed in Washington sent her job and most of her coworkers' jobs to China in the mid-2000s.</p><p>"I was trying to find another job, but all I heard over and over is 'You have to have an education to get a job now,'" she said. "So I went back to school at Davidson County Community College and then when I graduated all I heard was 'You have to have experience to get a job.' Well how do you get experience if no one will hire you?"</p><p>The unlucky situation of not finding a job turned out to be a blessing, she said. Soon her mother was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, and she was needed to care for her mother and drive her to all of her doctor's appointments. About the same time, Lampley fell down a flight of stairs at her home, messing up her knees badly. It was so bad, she was eventually placed on disability.</p><p>"I wanted to work. I wanted something to do, but I needed a job where I could sit down because of my knees," she said.</p><p>Well a job didn't come her way, but the opportunity to volunteer at Carolina Cancer Services did in May 2011. Her daughter, Lori Triplette, who is a fundraiser on a local American Cancer Society Relay for Life team, heard that Carolina Cancer Services needed a volunteer receptionist for a few hours once a week. Lampley jumped at the chance, and her once a week volunteering turned into three days a week on her second week of volunteering. For the past 1 1/2 years, she has been volunteering at the agency for 32 hours each week.</p><p>Lampley is the agency's intake and quality services coordinator. She interviews Davidson County residents to see if they qualify for financial assistance during their cancer treatments to buy prescriptions, pay for gas to reach the appointments and other needs. The agency also provides support groups, educational information, wigs, scarves, hats, bras, Ensure and other items people battling cancer may need.</p><p>"I have been with nonprofit agencies longer than you have been alive," said new Executive Director Gary Drake. "And in all my years, I have never had a volunteer give 32 hours a week."</p><p>Ray Nance Howell IV, the newly named director of patient services, added that he knows of no agencies in town that have a volunteer who gives so much time.</p><p>"She really is the heart and soul of our clients," he said. "We are undergoing a transition, but she is the stability. We're able to continue the mission even while undergoing change."</p><p>For Lampley, she said the long hours are worth it when she is able to see relief on a client's face because the agency will help them with gas money to travel to appointments or treatments, or help them pay for a prescription they could never afford.</p><p>"I just love doing this," she said.</p><p>"She embodies the spirit of the season," chimed in Howell, referring to Christmas.</p><p>When not volunteering, Lampley loves to read action/romance novels and spend time with her family. She is married to Donald Lampley, and they have a daughter and son, Don, along with four grandchildren and another on the way. The family loves gathering to eat, play Wii, cornhole and just be together.</p><p>"I have had people say, "Why do you do this? You don't get paid.' I say, 'Yes, I do.' Every time I help someone with travel expenses or another need, and I see the relief on their face, I get paid. I try to remember what it was like when I walked that trip with my mom. I try to give them what I wanted for her."</p><p>Jill Doss-Raines is the lifestyles editor at The Dispatch. She can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 219, or at jill.doss-raines@the-dispatch.com.</p>